NERC :: File Repository

To ensure safe, reliable and efficient operation of the system, the Commission develops in consultation with Licensees and other stakeholders, the following Standards, Codes and Manuals in accordance with the provisions of S. 81 of the EPSR Act:

The Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has followed the current trend for disputes to be resolved by methods other than litigation. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms such as arbitration, mediation and conciliation are more result-oriented and are provided under the Market Rules of the NESI.

In furtherance to this and pursuant to the Market Rules, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has appointed a Dispute Resolution Counsellor (DRC) who shall administer the dispute resolution provisions of the Market Rules. In addition, NERC has also appointed 12 members of the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) following a rigorous screening process. The DRP members are seasoned professionals with cognate experiences in their various fields of specializations. The function of the DRP is to hear and resolve disputes.

According to the Market Rules, disputing parties wishing to submit to this mechanism are to choose one or three persons from the members of the panel to resolve their dispute. Interested Parties are encouraged to study Rule 43 of the Market Rules. The procedure for the resolution of disputes has been stated there.

The DRC may be contacted by any of these channels

1. Email: drc@nercng.org or 2. by phone: 0803-611-1164. 3. Correspondences can be addressed to the Dispute Resolution Counselor through:

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has been chosen as one of the agencies of government in a pilot scheme for the implementation Freedom of Information Act. The Commission is to develop the capacity for the compliance with the provisions of the Act.

Conducting a Hearing is a Quasi-Judicial power of the Commission. When a formal Petition is brought before the Commission, the Commission conducts a formal Hearing to determine the Pleadings in the Petition with a view to resolving disputes between operators, operators and consumers, and other stakeholders in the industry. It involves the presentation of testimonies, evidence and arguments before the Commission, with a view to arriving at an informed decision.

The Commission may conduct a Hearing on its own initiative or upon the receipt of a formal Petition.

The procedures for Hearing are contained in Sections 45, and 62 (4) of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005, and Chapter II of the NERC Business Rules of the Commission Regulation, 2006.

Section 45 of the EPSR Act 2005 empowers the Commission to conduct proceedings, consultations and hearings at its headquarters or any other place in Nigeria following which the Commission issues final command, direction or instruction to persons as it deems fit in accordance with Section 46 of the EPSR Act provided such decision or order is signed by the Chairman or Vice Chairman on behalf of the Chairman contains the basis for the decision or the order; are properly recorded in writing and are accessible to the public.

The Commission issues interim or final command, direction or instruction to persons as deems necessary in accordance with S. 46 of the EPSR Act provided they contain the basis for the decision or the order; are properly recorded in writing and are accessible to the public

A Petition is a formal written request or application to the Commission, by an aggrieved person, group of persons, or entity, soliciting or appealing a right/relief/privilege; requesting action on a specific matter; fighting a course; and or, applying to the Commission to reconsider, vary or rescind its earlier decision. The Commission has the power to review the Petition and make a determination on whether to give a Ruling, based on the written submissions made, or invite Parties and other stakeholders for a Hearing before making a Ruling on the Petition.

However, in cases of Customer Complaints, an aggrieved party shall first go through the process contained in the NERC Customer Complaints Handling: Standards & Procedures Regulation, 2006.

To better give effect to the EPSR Act 2005, the Commission is empowered by S.96 of the Act to make regulations prescribing all matters which are required or necessary for operational convenience. As such, the Commission prescribed the following Regulations: